I've often made a nice bowl of matcha before doing zazen. (In a way, the meditation starts while I'm preparing the tea.) Not only can the tea making process be a nice and gentle start to your meditation, but the effect of the tea itself is of great help during the meditation - especially if it is in the early hours of the day, and you're like me not much of a morning person

Funny enough I started reading Shōbōgenzō the day this topic was started.